Murakami Leads Nobel Prize for Literature Odds

Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami leads the early sports betting odds for the Nobel Prize for Literature, but he will have to beat a strong field if he is to be awarded the coveted prize.

Ladbrokes has installed Murakami, the author of acclaimed titles like Norwegian Wood and 1Q84, as the 10/1 favorite to win the Nobel. Following him are Chinese author Mo Yan and Dutch author Cees Noteboom at 12/1, and a host of other great writers like Philip Roth and even singer Bob Dylan.

Last year's winner, Swedish potet Tomas Transtromer, was Ladbrokes' second favourite to win the award, with his 9/2 odds trailing only the 4/1 on offer for Syrian poet Adonis. This year Adonis is a 14/1 shot to win, sharing odds with another poet, Korean Ko Un, and Albanian author Ismail Kadare.

And now, anyone who registers to Ladbrokes and uses promo code FB50 will receive the right to a free bet of up to £50. Place a single bet of £5 (or more) on the Nobel Prize in Literature at Ladbrokes, and enjoy a free bet for the same amount.

Free bets can be used on other Awards - BBC Sports Personality and the Turner Prize among them.

The Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded 104 times to 108 Nobel Laureates going back to 1901. Considered the most prestigious prize in international literature, it rewards what the Swedish Academy considers to be the most outstanding author.

Literature is one of the five categories in which a Nobel Prize is awarded. The others prizes are the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Nobel Prize in Physics, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and the Nobel Peace Prize. Online sportsbooks should have odds on those prizes soon.